(WTAQ-WLUK) — A former Keshena resident was sentenced Wednesday to 2.5 years in federal prison following a theft conviction.
It comes after Merwin J. “Pete” Wynos entered a guilty plea in January. He will also face three years of supervised release once his sentence is complete.
Officials say in Sept. 2023, several companies reported equipment thefts from the site of the new Menominee Indian High School in Keshena.
An investigation revealed Wynos had entered the closed, fenced and locked construction site during nighttime hours and used a utility vehicle to transport construction tools and electronics taken from construction trailers to his own residence. He then attempted to sell some of the items at local pawn shops.
Wynos was arrested after he was caught with other individuals in a car filled with stolen construction tools. After being released, he entered the construction site again in Nov. 2023 and was caught stealing additional items. In court, Wynos admitted to being responsible for three theft incidents on the construction site.
At sentencing, the judge described the need to punish Wynos for his repeated crimes and to show the community there is consequences for these types of actions.
“Stealing from hard working people, especially those building a new school that will help your community, shows a persistent willingness to violate the law,” the judge said.
Wynos will pay more than $29,000 in restitution to the victims.
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